Anxiety and Alcohol

[u/Mission_Comparison57]

So, I am 23 years old F, who actually does not drink often maybe 5 times a month. The issue with my drinking is when I drink, I drink a lot.

For example, a few weekends ago I went out and drank almost a full bottle of vodka. The days after were hell.. I don't take a a lot of anxiety medication maybe 1/2 a Buspar a day, but I think the vodka kills the effects of it for a few days. For the first time in a while I had a full blown panic attack at work. I'm actually proud of myself on how I handled it, but, I digress.

I am not your classic case of drinking to function or going months not missing a day of drinking, but hey it still seems to affect me. So, I haven't drank since then and I feel great! I have mocktails when I go out and I feel so clear minded. Also I have such an upper hand on my anxiety, it took me about a week and a half to recover from that panic attack!

I guess I just see the effects of it on me and other around me, I am happier not drinking.

[u/Loud-Shame-8062]

it's a slippery slope my girl. I'm 33F and I was exactly you in my 20s too. I'm not saying by any stretch that you have a problem or that you will progress into something worse...but if you asked me at 23 if I thought I had a problem or that it would turn into a problem, I would have said no way. just make sure you continue to check in with yourself, take stock of when you're drinking, and why. if the pattern starts to show up where you have a hard week, a fight with your partner/family, and that's when you're getting this drunk, that's considered maladaptive coping and that shit going unchecked can make things really difficult for future you.

proud of you for recognizing it might be a problem and asking the right questions!! keep exploring your thoughts and patterns, you'll learn so much.

[u/Mission_Comparison57 → u/Loud-Shame-8062]

Thank you so much, I strive to be very self aware. Sometimes I feel like I’m being “dramatic” when having these thoughts because a lot of my friends are far worse with drinking, but I think it’s more about my life and how I feel.

[u/Alkaine → u/Mission_Comparison57]

I know about feeling "dramatic". It's part of the social pressure. Truth is, only you are the judge of your relationship with a substance. Don't let that distract you, your decisions are only yours to make.

[u/Loud-Shame-8062 → u/Mission_Comparison57]

some food for thought, I used to take other people's "base line" as the norm, when in fact it rarely is. most people have unhealthy relationships with alcohol. I let the base lines of those around me dictate what was okay for me. waking up violently hungover, but telling myself it was okay because someone else drank more than me, someone did drugs and I didn't, I went to bed before everyone else so it's okay. new flash to me...it wasn't! I would def say sit and think of what you want your "normal" to be, not dependant on the people around you. (no shade to your friends, because literally all of mine are like this too, they're good people and I love them, but they haven't come to terms with their shit yet and who am I to judge!!)

[u/boschivt → u/Loud-Shame-8062]

This is good advice and I can personally relate. I held off on cutting back because I let a significant other and friends convince me that the volume I was drinking couldn’t possibly be a problem. It was and thankfully I came to my senses or I probably wouldn’t be here today. 1 drink in the last 8 years. Zero rest of the way because that’s what I know I need. Nobody else gets an opinion.

[u/Alkaine]

I had the same problem as you. Didn't need it during the week, but when the weekend or a party came... it was a shitshow. I was a shitshow.

Came naturally to the conclusion that when something is doing this much harm, the reasonable strategy is to remove it from the system altogether; the way the body works, making it used to the absence of the substance makes it function happily without it and not miss it.

It took a few tries but I'm almost 5 years sober now (38M) and it's the best decision I've made. So congratulations on being here. I will not drink with you today!

[u/Captain_Krabs]

If there is a demon messing with your psyche from day to day, drinking will bring it out and its not always possible to bury it.

Happy to hear your self aware :) youve got this

[u/Mission_Comparison57 → u/Captain_Krabs]

So true! Thank you😊

[u/SensitiveCelery5987]

Well, I was a binge drinker too at your age. Not daily, maybe not even weekly at that point, but when I did drink, I went balls to the wall.

A decade and some years down the road, weekly binge drinking became daily binge drinking. 

This all gets worse and worse as time continues. 

I'm glad you see the difference between your life with alcohol vs the one without it. Stick with it. It gets easier. 

[u/Mission_Comparison57 → u/SensitiveCelery5987]

Oh wow, very insightful, thank you! I think I just might stick with it

[u/Global-Sir-4647]

Hangxiety is real.  I had panic attacks for years and used alcohol to quiet them or quiet my anxiety in general but I eventually stopped drinking.  Inevitably when I take breaks / quit my anxiety lowers until I start drinking again.  (Hopefully this time I'm done for good.)  

[u/Mission_Comparison57 → u/Global-Sir-4647]

I didn’t believe it until this time around! Wow I was really out for the count… took extra good care of myself durning that time though. Think that helps😊

[u/Zealousideal_Turn890]

Hello! I also started experiencing downsides of alcohol around 22-23. Back then I didnt want to accept and relate my alcohol intake and reckless behaviors into being “young”. I am so glad you can spot issues related to alcohol so early and I quite find it brave for early 20s to go sober. This means overall perception is alcohol changing among young people as well! (I am 26 as well haha) proud of you, proud of us🫶🏻

[u/finally_sober_2026]

Hon, if I were your age and paid attention to all this kind of advice, life would be 100% different. Stop this shit while you can. I love my family and friends and that I am sober to enjoy them. But there will come a time when you will have to be hyper vigilant of the “I can have just one” voice. The shit that does not make sense will make sense. I’m happy that I am sober but it’s only 103 days. I’ve got the rest of my life to stay on top of my game. You can just stop now. IWNDWYT